The long-time head of Human Rights Watch, Kenneth Roth, joins us to tell the story of taking on the world’s biggest human rights villains and toughest autocrats.
The son of a Jew who fled Nazi Germany just before the war began, Kenneth Roth grew up knowing full well how inhumane governments could be. As the Executive Director of Human Rights Watch for three decades, he dedicated his life to investigating and uncovering abuses across the globe – and pressuring offending governments to stop them.
He travelled the world to meet cruelty and injustice on its home turf: he arrived in Rwanda shortly after the genocide; scrutinized the impact of Saddam’s invasion of Kuwait; investigated and condemned Israel’s mistreatment of Palestinians. He directed efforts to curtail the Chinese government’s persecution of Uyghur Muslims, to bring Myanmar’s officials to justice after the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims, to halt Russian war crimes in Ukraine, even to rein in the U.S. government.
Roth has grappled with the worst of humanity, taken on the most ruthless oppressors of our time, and persuaded leaders from around the globe to stand up to their repressive counterparts. Returning to How To Academy for the first time since 2019, he joins us to tell the story of wins, losses, and ongoing battles in the ceaseless fight for a more decent world.
Praise for Kenneth Roth’s Righting Wrongs:
‘This book is vibrant, passionate, and alive with purpose. It combines wisdom with a powerful idealistic spirit, making it highly relevant in today’s complex political landscape, where the struggle for dignity and the rights inherent to life continue to have profound significance.’ Ai Weiwei
‘A penetrating, inspiring and challenging account of what it takes to fight to uphold human rights in an increasingly fractured and dangerous world. This is partly a personal memoir and partly a call to arms, and it should inspire anyone who wishes to make a difference in the world.’ – Gillian Tett
Tickets to this event are half-price for members of How To +.
